Getty New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham took matters into his own hands to boost the New York Giants’ limp passing attack.
The star receiver passed to a wide open Saquon Barkley after receiving a backward pass from quarterback Eli Manning in the team’s Week 5 matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
The 57-yard score represents the first passing touchdown in Beckham’s career.
The Giants’ Weak Passing Attack
Despite averaging the 11th-most pass attempts per game, New York entered the week 21st in passing yards and 24th in passing touchdowns per contest.
Beckham entered the game with zero touchdown grabs; the four-game draught is the second-longest of his career. He’s expressed frustration with the team’s offense in the media.
“I haven’t been in this situation. I haven’t been in the place where I felt like I could really go out and do everything that I’m capable of doing,” Beckham told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “I don’t get 20 targets like some other receivers, you know.”
Manning is 0-of-3 on pass attempts of 20 yards or more downfield to Beckham since Week 1. But the wideout told Anderson he didn’t know if the problem lies at quarterback.
“I don’t know,” Beckham said. “Like I said, I feel like he’s not going to get out the pocket. He’s not — we know Eli’s not running it. But is it a matter of time issue? Can he still throw it, yeah, but it’s been pretty safe and it’s been, you know … cool catching shallow [routes] and trying to take it to the house. But I’m, you know, I want to go over the top of somebody.”
Panthers Win in Wild Finish
The Giants passing attack finally got going, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Carolina.
Manning, who finished the day 22-of-36 for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks, led touchdown drives on consecutive Giants possessions in the fourth to give his side a 31-30 lead with 1:08 remaining, punctuated by this 15-yard pass to Barkley.
.@SAQUON! He’s IN for the TD and the @giants take the lead in Carolina.
📺: FOX #GiantsPride t.co/syYxkP8SdG
Unfortunately for New York, 78 seconds was just enough time for Cam Newton to orchestrate a 30-yard, eight-play drive, setting up Panthers kicker Graham Gano’s game-winning 63-yard field goal.
We love you @GrahamGano!!!